Any feline owner will tell you that cats are practically perfect in every way—but the one thing that would actually make them perfect is if they could scoop their own litter. While that’s never going to be a reality—truth be told, even if they were capable of doing it, my cats would probably refuse the task—there is a just-as-great solution: self-cleaning litter boxes. The best automatic litter boxes are futuristic devices that sense when your cat has finished their business and respond accordingly by raking, sifting and sometimes flushing the waste away so you don’t have to scoop anything yourself. After five months of testing, I selected the Litter-Robot 4 as my overall best pick for 2024, but the PetSafe ScoopFree Complete Plus Self-Cleaning Litter Box was a close second; I rated it as my best value pick. Meanwhile, the Casa Leo Leo’s Loo Too was a winner in its own right: I’ve deemed it the best option for design-conscious pet owners.
Live with a cat? We considered nine options and narrowed down the best self-cleaning litter boxes … [+]
The following is a list of all the winners from my testing process:
Because automatic litter boxes run pricey and are considered once-every-decade investments, I knew it’d be important to test as many of them as possible to compare their performance and features accurately. After a lengthy research period, I narrowed my contenders down to nine, of which I ended up testing seven and excluding two. (For more on how I conducted my testing process, refer to the bottom of this article.)
Is the Litter-Robot 4 worth it? It’s a question that’s asked by cat owners time and time again. After testing both the Litter-Robot 3 and 4 (believe it or not, I owned both models prior to beginning this official testing process), I can answer that question with a definitive, confident “yes.” I know that spending $699 on a litter box can feel ridiculous—I’m not even sure I’d spend that on a toilet for myself. But I consider the Litter-Robot 4 to be more of a “cat poop assistant” than a “passive kitty bathroom.” If you want a top-of-the-line smart machine, there’s simply no comparison.
While either Litter-Robot model is, in my opinion, worth it, the newest version—the Litter-Robot 4—is the best choice for several reasons. First, this newly redesigned automatic litter box has a much bigger opening; according to Jacob Zuppke, president and CEO of Whisker, the company that makes the Litter-Robot line, this decision was really about making the cat’s experience better. “What if you went into a porta-potty that was too small for you to get in and turn around? You wouldn’t want to touch anything in there,” he says. “Why would we not make a cat’s litter box large enough for the cat to get in and turn around?”
What’s more, my cats really did love it. Not only could these big boys get in and turn around, but they were also able to back up and cover their waste with litter when they were done doing their business. (And note that I’m not exaggerating when I call them big: My largest cat is 15 pounds.) Because this same turn-around technique wasn’t an option for them in some of the other self-cleaning litter boxes I tested, they just left the waste uncovered, which I can assure you didn’t result in a great smell.
There’s also an upgraded laser-sensing system in the Litter-Robot 4, which works unbelievably quickly. I have curious kitties that like to watch their poop disappear, so I appreciated how fast the new sensor system reacted—it shut the rotation cycle off immediately. And the Litter-Robot 4 has an extra-large waste drawer and better odor control than its predecessors, so you don’t have to empty it as often. What’s more, it was far and away the “smartest” machine of all the devices I tested. It connects to a free app that monitors litter and waste levels, and it will send you notifications when it finishes a cycle and the drawer needs emptying. The device can even track your pets’ weight so it can identify which cat is using the box in a multi-cat household. Finally, this self-cleaning litter box was also the quietest of all the models I tested; you can barely hear it when it’s running through a cycle.
It’s also worth noting that the Litter-Robots are manufactured in the U.S., and Whisker has full control over the supply chain. There’s a testing protocol for each litter box, so you know you’re getting a machine that’s safe for your cat, according to Zuppke. The brand also employs its own engineers who are constantly working on and deploying firmware updates that improve the way the litter box works.
So, what’s not to love about the Litter-Robot 4? Well, it’s quite big. As far as litter boxes go, it’s not inconspicuous in the slightest. If you have the extra space (and the extra budget), though, the Coastal Credenza is a great way to hide the entire device. Deep cleaning is a pain here, too, but that’s par for the course when it comes to automatic litter boxes—and you only need to do it once every few months. You’ll have to take the pieces apart and wash them; I took them outside and used my pressure washer. The whole process takes about 30 minutes, but you’ll also need to let the components dry completely before putting them back together.
Long-Term Testing Notes: Two Years Later
Cleaning the Litter-Robot 4 has become much easier over time; I’ve got a system down, and now it only takes about 30 minutes. While the task is still a bit of a nuisance, this litter box’s performance and odor-fighting design make it worth it.
That said, I’ve run into some issues with the drawer sensor showing the drawer as full when it’s actually not. This requires a recalibration of the sensor—which is easy to do, but kind of an inconvenience—because when the drawer sensor reads as full, the machine won’t cycle.
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The Leo’s Loo Too by Casa Leo is larger than your traditional litter box, but the design is actually quite appealing, and it hardly looked out of place in my home. Available in four modern hues (gray, green, blue and pink), you can choose the one that blends in best with your décor. The litter box cycled like clockwork, and I never received a single error message in the accompanying app. The cycle time is also faster than the Litter-Robot’s—it cycles in one direction, while the Litter-Robot rotates one way and then has to reverse direction to complete its cycle. That said, all in all, it’s louder. It’s not obnoxiously loud, but you can definitely hear it when it’s running. Note, too, that the chamber entrance is considerably smaller than the Litter-Robot models, and the size did present a problem in that it was slightly trickier to fill the box with litter.
The connected app here actually lets you control the rotations per cycle and automatic time delay (you can set it for anywhere from 6 seconds to 20 minutes after your cat leaves). You can also turn off automatic rotations and schedule cleaning sessions instead—this might be a good option if you’re worried about it running while you’re not home. The app also tracks how often your cats use it and, like the Litter-Robot, it can differentiate between cats in a multi-cat household by judging their weight. It’s also compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant voice controls.
Deep cleaning it is pretty much the same process as the Litter-Robot models: You have to take apart all the components, wipe them down, then wait for them to dry before putting them back together. Casa Leo recommends deep cleaning every four weeks.
Long-Term Testing Notes: Two Years Later
The Leo Loo Too’s waste drawer compartment has been really difficult to clean. There are a lot of nooks that are tricky to get into, especially if waste or litter spills out of the drawer. Further, it doesn’t contain smell as well as it used to; over time, it has started to require more frequent cleanings.
I didn’t know that I would become a full-on cat paparazzo in the process of testing these machines, … [+]
If you’re going to go the value route, start by managing your expectations. This litter box does not compare to the bells and whistles of the more advanced Litter-Robot 4 or the Casa Leo Leo’s Loo Too, but it’s not meant to. It’s really intended to be more of an upgrade from the traditional litter box. To operate it, you load the pre-filled disposable tray into the bottom of the litter box and plug it in. From there, it automatically senses when your cat has used it, and an auto-cleaning cycle kicks in 20 minutes after your cat leaves (so as not to startle them). The rake sweeps waste into a covered trap that sits at the front of the machine. During testing, the whole operation’s timeline was incredibly reliable. The litter box was able to sense when the cat left the litter box, and the cycle would kick in exactly 20 minutes later.
Note that this litter box is compatible only with crystal litter, which doesn’t clump together like clay litter. Because of this, the rake often moved through the urine, and the litter absorbed it rather than pushing a clump of it into the waste drawer (note that this is, in fact, what’s supposed to happen per the device’s manual). That being said, the odor control was great—I could see the urine in the box, but I couldn’t smell it.
There aren’t a lot of bells and whistles to speak of here, but there is a smart, app-connected option available as well (I tested the regular version). That model retails for about $90 more, and it gives you feedback on your cat’s bathroom habits via a litter-cycling tracker. So if you’re looking for more of a middle-ground option, it could be worth checking out. And cleaning this box was a breeze compared with the others I tested.
The PetSafe litter box reliably sensed when my cat had departed; the cycle kicked in exactly 20 … [+]
Other Self-Cleaning Litter Boxes I Considered
After a lengthy research period, I considered nine automatic litter boxes, then narrowed these down to the seven I felt were worthy of testing. The following is a list of all the non-winning models.
Litter-Robot 3 Connect: The Litter-Robot 3 Connect got high marks during testing but ultimately got pushed out by the upgraded Litter-Robot 4. Its smaller waste capacity required more frequent changing, and it doesn’t contain odors quite as well. But if you want to save a little cash, you’ll be perfectly happy with this version.
CatGenie A.I. Deluxe: I decided against testing this model because of its extensive installation process. Still, it’s a highly coveted, well-reviewed model that flushes waste through your plumbing, so you don’t even have to empty a waste drawer. I plan to test it for a future update of this story.
LitterMaid Multi-Cat Self-Cleaning Litter Box (Out Of Stock): This litter box was one of my initial best value contenders, but due to relatively poor customer reviews, I decided against testing it in the first round.
Catlink Self Cleaning Litter Box (Young Version): This didn’t hold up as well as the similarly designed Litter-Robots in performance or convenience. The small waste drawer needed frequent emptying, especially with multiple cats. I also found that waste got stuck on the top of the chamber.
Petkit Pura Max Self-Cleaning Cat Litter Box: I thought this litter box’s design was cool, but my cats simply didn’t take to it like the others. The opening is a lot smaller, and my big boys looked a bit cramped and uncomfortable when using it. If you have smaller cats, this could be an option.
Pet Zone Smart Scoop Automatic Cat Litter Box: This potential value pick left me unimpressed during testing. It’s a messier option all around, requiring near-constant emptying, especially with my multiple cats. In fact, it almost felt like more of a hassle than just scooping a regular litter box.
How I Tested The Best Self-Cleaning Litter Boxes
Since I couldn’t actively test the self-cleaning litter boxes myself (that would be weird, no?), I enlisted the help of my furry crew: Alfred, Harvey and Bruce, three feline brothers who have no problem vocalizing their disdain for certain litter boxes or, well, anything else, for that matter. If it wasn’t up to their standards, I assure you—I would know immediately.
I allowed the cats to use each litter box for three weeks, but I made sure to test several at once, placing more than one model in my house during the same three-week period so I could also monitor whether one was more preferred than another. For each three-week-long round of testing, I set up two of the three to-be-tested litter boxes upstairs and one downstairs. (Because I have three cats, this is how many litter boxes I normally have in my house, so the cats weren’t being deterred by a box in an unusual place.)
During testing, I evaluated performance, ease of cleaning and litter usage. I also paid attention to how well, or not, my cats took to the new litter boxes. Here’s what we—meaning my cats and I—looked at:
- Performance: I monitored how well the litter box worked after my cats used it, considering whether or not it successfully removed waste, if it got stuck during a cycle and if it properly connected with the app (when applicable). I also considered whether or not litter got thrown from the box and onto the floor (my pet peeve) or if clumped waste stuck to the roof of the chamber and had to be scraped off.
- Odor control: For this test, I left waste in the drawer for 1 week to see how well the litter box contained the odor. The only exception here was if the waste drawer was not big enough to accommodate this, as was the case with the value picks. I used the same litter in all the boxes I tested, with the exception of the PetSafe ScoopFree Complete Plus Self-Cleaning Litter Box, which required crystal litter, to create somewhat of a controlled experiment. It’s worth noting that carbon or charcoal filters can lose effectiveness over time. For this round, I wasn’t able to test each litter box to its recommended filter life, but I’m planning on updating this if necessary for the winners.
- Ease of cleaning: I gave the litter boxes daily wipe downs with litter box wipes, noting how easy they were to clean and whether or not I could reach all of the machine’s parts. After the testing period, I followed deep clean instructions for each box, timing how long the process took and noting how convenient (or inconvenient) it was to go through all the steps.
- Litter usage: I filled each litter box up to their max fill lines, noting when they needed a refill and how long it took to go through a full box of litter. Each litter box is a different size, so this isn’t an apples-to-apples comparison, but this was a good way to factor litter usage into the overall cost of the machine.
- Extra features: This didn’t apply to all boxes, but I tested each machine’s extra features and noted how well they worked. This meant connecting to an app and setting up alerts, or using automatic cleaning functions on the less tech-heavy machines.
- Subjective cat tests: Cats are finicky, and they aren’t always willing to use every litter box. Granted, every cat is different, but I paid attention to whether or not my cats took to the litter box or if they tried to avoid it and/or were scared of it. After all, they will be the ultimate judges of which litter box they think is best.
I also took size into consideration. I didn’t think it was fair to judge a self-cleaning litter box on this alone because they’re all really large, but it’s something to keep in mind, generally. Finally, I factored price and warranty into my final decisions. If you’re going to be investing several hundred dollars into a litter box, you want to make sure that investment is protected.
How To Choose A Self-Cleaning Litter Box
Cats can be finicky, so you want to make sure you’re doing all the right research when picking a self-cleaning litter box. While they can help make your life easier, it’s also important for your cat to like the model you choose; otherwise, they likely won’t use it. Here’s everything you should consider when picking an automatic litter box.
Size Of The Box
Size consideration is twofold here since you have to think about both your human needs and your cat’s needs. Self-cleaning litter boxes are significantly larger than your typical litter box, unless you’re opting for a value model. They also need access to a power source, which means you have to be more strategic with where you put them. Because of this, you really need to think about how big the litter box’s overall footprint is and where you can put it in your home.
“Generally, cats prefer larger boxes and a larger surface area to do their business on,” shares Joey Lusvardi, a certified cat behavior consultant I interviewed for this article. “They may also like to bury their waste after using it, which, while unnecessary in self-cleaning boxes, is a normal instinct for cats. Many self-cleaning boxes (and actually, many commercially available regular litter boxes) are a bit too small for what cats prefer. Picking a larger box will be better for your cat.”
Many companies make litter box furniture that’s large enough to accommodate an automatic litter box, but this makes the footprint even larger, so it’s something to think about. You’re definitely not going to be hiding these away as easily as other litter boxes.
Size Of The Opening And Waste Drawer
If you have larger cats, you want to make sure the opening and chamber are large enough to comfortably accommodate them. Zuppke likens it to using a porta-potty that’s too small for you: If you walk in and you’re touching the walls, you’re probably going to turn around and get right out.
The size of the waste drawer determines how often you’ll have to empty it. If you have one cat, you’ll probably only have to empty a small waste drawer twice a month. If you have multiple cats, you’ll want a larger waste drawer, unless you’re planning to empty it at least once a week.
However, there’s the odor to consider, too. “Keep in mind that boxes that require less frequent emptying will allow odors to build up, so it may be less pleasant to empty the waste container if you wait too long,” says Lusvardi.
Litter Compatibility
Some of the magic of a self-cleaning litter box is in the litter. According to Zuppke, clumping litter is superior because the clumping process is what effectively traps odor. Non-clumping litters often use fragrances and heavy scents to try to cover the smell, but this can only go so far (as you may know if you’ve ever used an inferior litter).
Further, clumps are also more easily removed from an automatic litter box. When the Litter-Robot 4 rotates, for example, it passes the chamber’s contents through a grate that sifts out smaller particles and directs the clumps to the waste drawer. If the litter doesn’t clump effectively, then liquid waste can get left behind. All said, ideally, you’ll want an automatic litter box that’s compatible with a clumping litter or a litter that you use now and are comfortable with.
Most automatic litter boxes call for regular clay clumping litter, with the exception of crystal-based boxes. While the crystal litter was effective at trapping odor during my testing, it doesn’t clump, so liquid waste isn’t as effectively removed as with the clumping litter.
Safety
Since self-cleaning litter boxes are automated machines, you also want to think about safety. “Robotic litter boxes do carry a risk of injury to your cat. If it goes off at the wrong time, your cat could be hurt either physically or psychologically. Pay close attention to what features it has so your cat doesn’t get caught in the box as it’s operating. This may include a delay in starting a cleaning cycle or an auto shut-off feature, should it detect a cat has entered the box during a clean cycle,” says Lusvardi.
App And Connectivity
A corresponding app and Bluetooth/Wi-Fi connectivity aren’t a requirement when buying an automatic litter box, but it’s something to think about if you’re looking for a smart machine.
The Litter-Robot app can alert you when the waste drawer is full, when the litter level is low and when your cat uses the bathroom—but it does so much more than that, too. It helps you identify patterns in your cat’s bathroom behavior, so you’re more likely to notice if something’s off and your cat needs to go see the vet. There have been many anecdotal reports of pet owners who were able to identify issues like urinary tract infections or blockages with the help of the litter box’s app.
“One of the disadvantages of self-cleaning boxes is you don’t get to observe your cat’s waste for changes that may indicate they need to go to a veterinarian. You could miss something like blood in their waste or a change in frequency of using the litter box. Self-cleaning boxes that alert you when they do use the box can help mitigate at least some of this, so it’s better to find a box that has these features built in,” says Lusvardi.
In my opinion, it’s worth the upgrade to a machine that has a useful corresponding app. If you decide you don’t want to use it, you can always turn it off and operate the litter box manually from its control panel.
Noise
All self-cleaning litter boxes make some noise—they are electronic devices, after all. But Lusvardi recommends quieter options for skittish cats. “Louder boxes are going to scare cats, making it less likely that they’ll want to use them. Cats have more sensitive hearing than us, so even if it’s not overwhelmingly loud to you, your cat may not like a noisy machine,” he says.
Warranty
At the end of the day, automatic litter boxes are electrical appliances that can break down over time. They’re also hefty upfront investments, so you want to make sure you’re covered should anything go wrong prematurely. Check the warranty on the model you’re considering, and make sure you’re covered for at least a year. Often, manufacturers will give you the option to purchase extended warranties that increase the coverage period to three years or more. If you want the added peace of mind, this might be a good option for you.
My Expertise
I’ve been an expert product tester for five years. Before landing at Forbes Vetted as an executive editor, I tested pet and home products for publications like The Spruce, CNET, CNN Underscored and Insider. But perhaps more importantly, I’m cat-obsessed. I currently have three Siberian cat mixes, and I have owned and loved cats my whole life.
For this story, I leaned on my product testing background and personal experience as a cat mom. I know that even though cats are mostly perfect, figuring out a good solution for managing their waste can be tricky. To help gain some insight into specific product features and things to look for, I also spoke with Jacob Zuppke, president and CEO of Whisker (the parent company of the Litter-Robots), and Joey Lusvardi, an IAABC-certified cat behavior consultant and founder of Class Act Cats, a cat behavior and training service in Minneapolis.
The wider Forbes Vetted home team has also tested and researched their way through several pet-related product lists. Further, many of our staffers are also pet parents and can lend firsthand insights for these stories—whether we’re reporting on the safest plants for cats or the best cat water fountains.